Monte Sannace, between Archaeology and Nature, is one ot the largest pre-Roman settlements of ancient Peucezia and an important archaeological site in Puglia, south of Italy. 382 metres above sea level can be a pleasant and interesting passeggiata especially when you encounter archaelogists digging to excavate artefacts. I never expected to see such a breathtaking and magnificent scenario! Achaeologists working together to discover and put pieces together so we can learn about how people lived a long, long time ago.
The hill is in a perfect geographical position, halfway between the beautiful cities of Bari and Taranto.
In the picture below you can admire public and private areas on the acropolis. Lots of objects were imported from Greece. In Greek ‘acro’ means high, thus an ‘acropolis’ is a ‘high city’. In Monte Sannace there are three different types of houses: rectangular which includes the yard and is the most humble; the pastàs house with a courtyard; peristyle house for the aristocracy.
The First traces of a settlement date back to the Neolithic age ( New Stone age) when people began farming and settling in one place. The farmers grew crops, vegetables and made huge tombs. The tombs found in Monte Sannace, provide a clear indication about the level of wealth, spiritual life and ideology of the settlers. The economy of Monte Sannace was primarily based on agriculture and sheep-farming which also provided wool for weaving. The documented cultivations are barley, vines and olive trees. Pottery was produced not only for the economy, but essential for cooking and various daily activities.
I was able to admire large parts of the ancient settlement thanks to the different excavations carried out by the arhaelogists.
l’Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, tramite il suo Dipartimento di Ricerca ed Innovazione Umanistica, porta avanti le escavazioni nel Parco Archeologico di Monte Sannace, a Gioia del Colle. In particolare, la professoressa Donatella Nuzzo guida la V Campagna di Scavo, che si svolge dal 5 maggio al 13 giugno 2025.
